Roll-Up Shelves

ABSTRACT

Roll-up shelving systems are presented herein. A roll-up shelving system may include first and second pluralities of slats that are flexible in a first direction. The first and second pluralities of slats may be connected by a plurality of hinge members that hinge to 90 degrees, forming a shelf. When the hinge members are not hinged to 90 degrees, the pluralities of slats may be rolled up such that the shelving system may be transported or stored in a compact form without disassembling the slats.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments relate generally to portable shelving systems and, morespecifically, to shelving systems that roll up to save space when not inuse.

BACKGROUND

Shelves are a basic element of nearly any dwelling, allowing people tostore items on walls for access or display. Many shelving systems arerigid and meant to be permanent. Those that are not often require timeconsuming disassembly to remove, and then waste space when being storedfor later use.

As society becomes more and more transient and living spaces generallybecome smaller and more urban, improvements are needed to give peoplethe flexibility to easily store their belongings while also providinggreater portability of the storage infrastructure itself. To this end,many current shelving systems do not allow for optimum flexibility andportability. Current shelving systems are very limited in theirfunctionality and portability, as they typically do little more thanpermanently attach to a wall and retain the same shape whether in use ornot.

Additionally, traditional shelves may be large an awkward to initiallyship, which can increase the ultimate purchase price of the shelf by aconsumer. Alternatively, the shelf may be flat packed to save space,leaving potentially time-consuming assembly to the purchaser.

Therefore, a need exists for shelves that can be compact and adapt tousers who are transient or on the go.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein include roll-up shelves. In one embodiment,the roll-up shelf includes a first substrate including a first pluralityof bend regions (e.g., kerf relief cuts and/or living hinges) to allowthe first substrate to bend into a spiral form. The first bend regionsmay define a plurality of sections (e.g., slats) in one embodiment andallow the plurality of sections to bend in a first direction by hingingalong respective bend regions. A second substrate may include a secondplurality of sections defined by second bend regions, allowing thesecond substrate to also bend as part of the spiral form.

In one embodiment, the first and second substrates are connected by atleast one hinge, such as a living hinge. The hinge may be designed tostop at stop hinging at substantially a 90 degree angle in oneembodiment. At the point where the hinge stops, at least a portion ofthe first substrate may be positioned as a surface for placing items.

In one embodiment, the roll-up shelf may be rolled into position on awall by adhering the second substrate to the wall. The first substratethen hinges into position and acts as a shelf in one embodiment.

When not being used as a shelf, in one embodiment, the first and secondsubstrates may again be bent into a spiral form. The spiral form may beadvantageous to mobility, flexibility, spatial organization, andstructural strength. Another embodiment may originally be bent intospiral form, but once installed on a wall may not return to spiral form.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the embodiments, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments and aspects ofthe present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a rolled-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration on a mounted roll-up shelf, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3A is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 3B is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4A is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4B is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4C is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4D is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4E is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4F is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4G is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4H is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 4I is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 5A is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 5B is an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart for mounting a roll-up shelf, inaccordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flow chart for making a roll-up shelf, inaccordance with an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplaryembodiments, including examples illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

In one embodiment, the roll-up shelf is capable of rolling up into aspiral form similar to the shape of a rolled-up yoga mat. This mayconserve space for storing or transporting the roll-up shelf, as thetotal cubic space occupied by the shelf is compacted. In one embodiment,the shelf may be installed on a wall by unrolling it onto the wallhorizontally (e.g., from left to right). In another embodiment, it maybe installed by rolling it vertically (e.g., top to bottom). The rollingand spiral nature of the roll-up shelf may be accomplished in part byincluding a series of kerf relief cuts in at least one substrate toallow the substrate bend and roll onto itself, resulting in a spiralform. In one embodiment, another relief cut running through amid-section of the roll-up shelf may effectively form first and secondsubstrates, allowing the shelf to fold into a 90 degree angle based onat least one hinge member that holds the substrates together.

As used herein, the terms “sections” and “slats” may be usedinterchangeably and refer to individual elongate members or a portion ofa substrate that is more rigid than surrounding portions.

Adjacent sections may be connected, for example, by bend regions. A bendregion may be a living hinge or rut that includes thinner material thanthe surrounding areas. In another embodiment, a bend region may includea gap between sections, where the sections are held together by at leastone hinge.

As used herein, the term “substrate” refers to a surface that may be onesolid unit or comprised of interconnected individual members, such asindividual slats. The substrate may be made out of a number ofmaterials, depending on the embodiment, such as plastics, rubbers,foams, polymers, woods, MDF, metals, or fabric. In one embodiment, thesubstrate may be made out of a biodegradable material, such as amaterial that naturally deteriorates in the presence of water and/orsoil. This may reduce the amount of plastic used in constructing theshelf.

As used herein, a “hinge” may include any type of hinge, and theillustration of particular hinges is exemplary only. The hinge membermay include a plastic hinge, a living hinge, a wood hinge, and a metalhinge, among others.

Turning to FIG. 1, an exemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf 100 in aspiral shape is presented. The spiral shape may be used to transport orstore the roll-up shelf 100 in one embodiment, because it may take upless space than the shelf 100 does when it is deployed as a shelf (e.g.,FIG. 2).

Shelf 100 may include a first substrate 110 having enough flexibility toallow the shelf to roll up into a spiral. In the example of FIG. 1, thefirst substrate 110 includes a plurality of slats 120 and 122 that areeach separated by a kerf relief cut 124. Successive adjacent slats 120and 122 may be coupled together by a connecting member 126 that is alsopart of the substrate 110.

In one embodiment, the substrate 110 (or each individual slat) is formedby pressing together elongate members 130 and 132 that sandwich aconnective medium 134 (e.g., the connecting member 126). Exampleembodiments include elongate members made of plastic, rubber, foam,polymer, wood, metal, and/or fabric. Likewise, the connective medium 134may be made out of at least fabric, plastic, rubber, foam, polymer,wood, and/or metal, depending upon the embodiment.

The elongate member 130 may be adhered to the connective medium 134 witha glue in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the elongate member 130is molded or 3-D printed along with the connective medium 134. In stillanother embodiment, at least one mounting member (e.g., screw, nail, orstaple) may be driven through the elongate member 130 and into elongatemember 132 (or vice versa), securing the two elongate members 130 and132 together and holding the connective medium 134 in place betweenthem.

Based on flexibility provided by kerf relief cuts 124 and/or theconnecting member 126, the shelf 100 may wrap upon itself into a spiralshape. As used herein, the term spiral only requires the substrate tooverlap itself at least once. In the example shown in FIG. 1, thesubstrate overlaps itself twice such that radius 150 intersects thesubstrate three different times.

In one embodiment, a plurality of hinge members 160 are fastened to thefirst substrate 110 and remain fastened when the shelf 100 is placed inspiral form. The hinge members 160 may not impede the radial bending ofthe first substrate 110 in one embodiment. This may be accomplished, forexample, by using a hinge member 160 that has a smaller width than theslats 162. The thinner hinge member 160 may be aligned on the slat 162such that a portion of the slat is exposed on each side of the hingemember 160 due to the slat having a greater width.

In one embodiment, the hinge point of each of the plurality of hingemembers 160 is substantially concealed when the shelf 100 is in thespiral position. This may be accomplished by orienting the hinge members160 on the inside of the substrate 110 relative to the roll-updirection.

Turning to FIG. 2, the exemplary shelf 100 of FIG. 1 is shown in anunrolled and mounted state, in accordance with an embodiment. In thisexample, the mounted state is accomplished by hinging the firstsubstrate 110 such that it comes to rest at approximately a 90 degreeangle from a second substrate 210, which is mounted on a wall.

In this position, the first substrate 110 may act as a shelf that mayhold a user's various objects and possessions. Because the kerf reliefcuts still provide the first substrate 110 with flexibility, in thisexample the plurality of hinge members 160 provide needed support tokeep the first substrate 110 from sagging or pitching forward to adegree (e.g., greater than 5 degrees) that would cause items to slip orroll off of the shelf.

In one embodiment, the first substrate 110 and second substrate form a90 degree angle with one another when the hinge members are in thehinged position.

The first substrate 110 may be longer than the second substrate 210 inone embodiment. This may allow the shelf to stick out further from thewall (and hold more or larger items) while still maintaining adequatesupport with the second substrate 210, which is fastened to the wall.

In another embodiment, the slats of the second substrate 210 may be atleast six inches long. This may allow the second substrate 210 to betterdistribute forces to the wall caused by placing items on the shelf. Byextending the second substrate 210 below an attachment point (oradhesive line) on the back of the second substrate 210, the bottom-mostpart of the second substrate 210 may cancel significant portions oftorque forces caused by items being placed on the shelf in oneembodiment.

Each hinge member 160 may also help distribute the forces in oneembodiment. For example, by shaping the hinge member 160 as a curve atthe hinge point (see FIG. 3B), downward forces on the shelf may moreeasily translate onto to the second substrate 210 such that a forcevector orthogonal to the wall is lower than a force vector parallel tothe wall. The orthogonal force may be further cancelled by the length ofthe second substrate 210, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

In one embodiment, the number of hinge members 160 is approximately onehinge member 160 per slat 120 a on the first substrate 110 or slat 120 bon the second substrate 210.

Turning to FIG. 3, an exemplary roll-up shelf 100 in the process ofbeing mounted on or removed from a wall 302 is illustrated, inaccordance with an embodiment. While this example shelf 100 is beingplaced on a wall 302, the first and second substrates 110 and 210 may besubstantially aligned in the same plane as the shelf 100 is beingunrolled (or rolled back up). Each hinge member 160 may be in an openposition such that a first portion 362 connected to the first substrate110 and second portion 364 connected to the second substrate 210substantially form a 180 degree angle.

As shown in this example, an adhesive strip 310 may be applied to theback of the second substrate 210. In this example, the adhesive strip310 is Velcro that the user aligns with a matching Velcro strip 312 thatthe user places on the wall 302 at a desired shelf location. However,other types of adhesive strips 310 may be used alternatively or inaddition. For example, a glue-based adhesive is used in one embodiment.In another embodiment, nails, screws, and/or anchors may be used.

In one embodiment, the adhesive strip 310 is oriented at the top of thesecond substrate 210 relative to the ground. This may allow foradditional bracing via a portion of the second substrate 210 that isbelow the adhesive strip 310.

In another embodiment, an open portion 330 of the hinge member 160 mayinclude a recessed screw or a hole for driving a nail through the secondportion 364 of the hinge member 160 and into the wall. In one suchembodiment, screw holes are located on the second potion of only asubset of the plurality of hinge members 160. The connective medium 134and/or second substrate 210 may be substantially resistive to verticalflexing in this orientation to prevent the second substrate fromdrooping between hinge members that are attached to the wall, inaccordance with one embodiment.

Once the roll-up shelf 100 is fully rolled onto the wall 302, the firstsubstrate 110 may be hinged downward to form approximately a 90 degreeangle with the second substrate 210. The 90 degree angle may be formedby the first portion 362 of the hinge member 160 meeting up with thesecond portion 364. For example, the first and second portions 362 and364 may each include an open portion 330 that has roughly a 45 degreeangle relative to the first and second substrates 110 and 210 to whichthey are attached. When these 45 degree surfaces come in contact withone another, the 90 degree angle may be formed by the hinge member 160.

This concept is further illustrated in FIG. 3B, which includes anexemplary illustration of a roll-up shelf 100 from a partial side view,in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3B, the first portion362 and the second portion 364 of hinge member 160 come together atcontact 390. In this example, first and second portions 362 and 364include first and second contact surfaces that are flat and meettogether approximately 45 degrees from the respective alignments of thefirst and second substrates 110 and 210. In another embodiment, thecontact surfaces may be skewed such that contact occurs at a greater orsmaller angle relative to the first substrate 110.

When the shelf 100 is in the position shown in FIG. 3B, items may beplaced by the user onto shelf 100 by placing them on top of the firstsubstrate 110.

Turning now to FIGS. 4A-4I, another exemplary roll-up shelf 400 isillustrated. As shown in FIG. 4A, adjacent sections 410 and 412 (i.e.,slats) may be coupled at a living hinge 420 (e.g., a thinner portion ofthe same material as the sections) in one embodiment, allowing the shelf400 to roll up approximately as indicated by directional arrow 425. Anexample rolled-up shelf is shown in FIG. 4C.

Although the sections 410 and 420 are shown as being relatively flatwith angled grooves near the seams in this example, they also may becurved in one embodiment. Additionally, shelf 400 may contain more thanthree sections in one embodiment, and form a spiral like the oneindicated in FIG. 1 when rolled up.

The adjacent sections (i.e., slats) may be part of a single continuousmaterial in one embodiment. Additionally, each section may include topand bottom sections, also referred to as first and second pluralities ofslats herein. Each of these sections or slats may be part of onecontinuous material, connected by living hinges in one embodiment. Thus,living hinges may both divide a continuous material vertically andhorizontally in one embodiment.

For example, turning to FIG. 4D, section 410 may include top 411 a andbottom 411 b portions in one embodiment. Similarly, adjacent section 412may include top 413 a and bottom 413 b portions in an embodiment. Therespective top and bottom portions may hinge at 430, such that the topand bottom portions substantially form a right angle and allow for itemsto be placed on the shelf 400 s.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the sections 410 and 420 may be jointed at a raisedrecess that includes cutout portion 432 at the intersection of liveedges 440 and 450. Similar cutouts 434 may exist at other live edgeintersections. These cutouts 432 and 434 may allow the shelf 400 tohinge along a horizontal live edge 450 to a 90 degree angle such thatthe shelf 400 may hold items.

Turning to FIG. 4E, the figure shows a perspective view of the exampleshelf 400 from below the shelf 400 as it is attached to a wall. Fromthis perspective, it can be seen how the cutout 432 may allow a topportion 480 of the shelf 400 to hinge downward and rest at the raisedliving hinges of the bottom portion 490.

This hinging action is shown in FIG. 4G, where the example shelf 400 hasbeen put into a position that will allow for the reception of items ontop of the upper portion 480.

In one embodiment, the example shelf 400 may roll up as shown in FIG.4I. Again, in one embodiment more than three sections may be included,allowing for a spiral form that folds in over itself. For the purposesof this disclosure, the three sections shown in FIG. 4I are alsoconsidered spiral form. In one embodiment, although the shelf 400 mayoriginally be rolled up and packaged and/or shipped in spiral form, itmay not be able to roll up after being installed as a shelf.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B, 4F, and 4H, some or allof the vertical living hinges 420 may press together to form spine-likesupport structures. In one embodiment, at least one inner surface 421 aor 421 b (shown in FIG. 4A) may be lined with an adhesive, such thatwhen the living hinge 420 surfaces 421 a and 421 b are pressed togetherto form the spine (shown in FIG. 4B), the surfaces may adhere to eachother, making the spine permanent or semi-permanent in one embodiment.For example, a protective strip may be peeled away to reveal a stickyadhesive in one embodiment. In another embodiment, Velcro or snaps maybe used on the opposing surfaces 421 a and 421 b so that the spine isonly semi-permanent.

FIG. 4E shows an example spine 491 that may be formed by pressingtogether the inner surfaces of a living hinge in one embodiment. In oneembodiment, each living hinge may be pressed together in this mannersubsequent to unrolling the shelf 400 and prior to using the shelf 400to hold objects. In another embodiment, only some of the living hingesare pressed together in this manner. In still another embodiment, aspine 491 may be formed after the shelf 400 is rolled onto a wall.

FIG. 4H shows an example shelf 400 having spine structures formed fromliving hinges that has been put into a position that will allow for thereception of items on top of the upper portion 480. Each spine 491 maysupport the upper portion by having a top spine portion 496 rest againsta lower spine portion 497.

Whereas an example embodiment similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1-4Imay roll horizontally relative to the shelf orientation, otherembodiments may roll vertically. FIG. 5A presents a profile view of onesuch embodiment. Turning to FIG. 5A, vertically-rolling shelf 500Aincludes a first substrate 510 and a second substrate 520 coupled via ahinge member 530.

Unlike with FIGS. 1-4, the shelf 500A of FIG. 5A may contain rivets(e.g., kerf relief cuts) 512 that allow the first and/or secondsubstrate 510 and 520 to flex along parallel lines to the hinge member530. However, in one embodiment, these rivets may only allow flexing inone direction, as shown by arrows 518 and 528 for the first and secondsubstrates 510 and 520, respectively. As an example, while the firstsubstrate 510 may bend upward, the rivets may substantially prevent itfrom bending downwards. This may allow the shelf 500A to maintainstructural integrity even though the rivets are oriented such that theybend in parallel with the hinge member(s) 530.

This may be accomplished in one embodiment by making Y shaped rivets514. Whereas two adjacent slats 514 and 516 may bend towards each otheruntil the upper portion of the rivet 512 closes, the bottom portion maybe closed by gravity when the first substrate 510 is in shelf position.When the bottom portion is closed (as illustrated in FIG. 5A), theadjacent slats 514 and 516, which are connected via a connectivematerial, may be held roughly in the same horizontal plane. Thus, thebottom portion of the Y rivet 512 may allow the requisite support forthe slats 514 and 516 to remain structurally supported in a horizontalshelf position (as pictured).

The hinge member 530 may include first and second sections 540 and 550that are coupled to the first and second substrates 510 and 520,respectively. In another embodiment, sections 540 and 550 may beconsidered to be part of the first and second substrates 510 and 520. Asillustrated, the hinge member 530 may hinge to a substantially 90 degreeangle such that the first substrate 510 forms a shelf by providing asubstantially level surface to place items on. As used herein, a portionof a surface is substantially level if it can hold a round object, suchas a ball, without it falling off of the shelf. In this example, the 90degree angle may be accomplished when the first and second portions 540and 550 of the hinge member come together and are held in place byeither a latch or gravity.

In one embodiment, a first slat 517 of the first substrate 510 may wrappartially underneath the first portion 540 of hinge member 530 toprovide extra stability against that slat 517 allowing the shelf to bendforward (i.e., downhill) and become less level over time. In anotherembodiment, adjacent slats 516 and 514 may be different thicknesses tointersperse thicker and, therefore, more structurally supportive slatswithin the first and/or second substrate 510 and 520.

To form a spiral from this exemplary vertically rolling shelf 500A, theuser may bend the first and second substrates 510 and 520 around onthemselves in one embodiment. The hinge member may also bend as part ofthe spiral formation, as depicted by arrow 560. For example, in relationto FIG. 5A, the first substrate 510 may be deformed in acounter-clockwise direction such that the slanted side of contact withthe adjacent slanted rivets,

Turning to FIG. 5B, an alternate exemplary embodiment of avertically-rolling shelf 500B attached to a wall 599 is illustrated. Inthis embodiment, the first and second substrates 570 and 572 may opposeone another to form the shelf surface. Only a portion 595 of the firstsubstrate 570 may be substantially level and useable as a shelf surface.In addition, the hinge member 580 may be located distal from the wall599 and attachment component (e.g., tape, Velcro, screw, adhesive, orother) rather than proximal to the wall and attachment component.

In this example, the first and second substrates 570 and 572 may bendaway from one another as the approach the wall 599. The first substrate570 may be attached to the wall with an attachment component at surface596. The second substrate 572 may be attached to the first substrate byrunning a connecting member 582 (e.g., rubber band, string, wire, orlatch) from a proximal portion 597 of the second substrate 572 to acatch element 584 on a proximal portion of the first substrate. Gravitymay then hold this example vertically-rolling shelf 500B in theillustrated shelf shape so long as the first substrate 570 remainsadhered to the wall 599.

To roll shelf 500B into a spiral, the bend directions of the firstsubstrate 570, second substrate 572, and hinge member 580 are shown asarrows 593, 592, and 594, respectively.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart including steps for installing andusing a roll-up shelf in accordance with an embodiment. At step 610, theuser may unroll the roll-up shelf horizontally or vertically onto awall. For example, whereas the roll-up shelf 100 of FIG. 3 may rollhorizontally, the roll-up shelf 500 of FIG. 5 may roll vertically.

At step 620, the roll-up shelf is adhered to the wall. In oneembodiment, the roll-up shelf may be adhered as it is being rolled ontothe wall in step 610. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the roll-up shelf100 may be rolled along an adhesive strip, such as Velcro or tape. Inanother embodiment, the roll-up shelf may be unrolled enough to expose afastening location, such as hole 330, through which the user may drive anail or a screw. Then the user may unroll the roll-up shelf further. Byunrolling the shelf in conjunction with the adhesion step 620,installation may generally be easier than with a standard shelf.

In one embodiment, at step 630, once the shelf has been unrolled andadhered to the wall, the user may fold the first substrate into positionto act as a shelf. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the first substrate110 may be folded down to create a shelf that protrudes relativelyhorizontally and perpendicularly relative to the wall.

In another embodiment, step 630 is performed simultaneously with theunrolling and adhesion steps 610 and 620. For example, the roll-up shelf500B in FIG. 5 folds the first substrate into position as part ofunrolling and adhering the first substrate 570 at surface 596 andattaching the second substrate 572 at point 584.

Once the roll-up shelf is mounted and positioned such that the firstsubstrate may hold items, at step 640 the user may place items on thefirst substrate. In this way, once the roll-up shelf is mounted, it mayhave similar utility to a conventional shelf in one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flow chart for making or manufacturing a roll-upshelf, in accordance with an embodiment. At step 710, a user or machineforms a first substrate having flexibility in at least one direction.For example, the substrate may contain ruts that act as flex points. Inone embodiment, the rut is a cut that defines a plurality of slats. Theplurality of slats may be connected to form the first substrate. Eachslat may be an elongate member that provides enough support to holditems in conjunction with the hinge member(s). The slats may be all partof a substrate in one embodiment, such that there are not cuts betweenthe slats but, instead, just a narrower material thickness that allowsfor flexibility.

At step 720, a second substrate is created that has flexibility in atleast one direction. The second substrate may be created by cutting thefirst substrate into two pieces (e.g., roughly halves) in oneembodiment.

At step 730, the user or machine may couple the first and secondsubstrates via at least one hinge member. A top portion of the hingemember may attach to the first substrate and a bottom portion of thehinge member may attach to the second substrate. In one embodiment, aplurality of hinge members are attached in this way. The hinge membersmay hinge to allow the first substrate to form a shelf.

At step 740, the roll-up shelf may be packaged by rolling it into aspiral form. In one embodiment, this includes flexing the first andsecond substrates to wrap onto themselves to form a spiral.

Although particular materials are mentioned as examples herein, theseexamples are not exhaustive. Other materials may be used to build aroll-up shelf in accordance with an embodiment herein.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A roll-up shelf, including: a first plurality ofsections arranged in parallel and coupled to one another at a firstplurality of bend regions such that adjacent sections in the firstplurality hinge in a first direction; a second plurality of sectionsarranged in parallel and coupled to one another at a second plurality ofbend regions such that adjacent sections in the second plurality hingein the first direction; and at least one hinge that connects the firstand second plurality of sections and allow the first plurality ofsections to hinge and come to rest at substantially a 90 degree anglewith respect to the second plurality of sections.
 2. The roll-up shelfof claim 1, wherein a gap exists between successive sections in thefirst and second pluralities of sections that allows the successivesections to flex in a first direction.
 3. The roll-up shelf of claim 1,wherein a first section in the first plurality of sections is formed bytwo substantially identical elongate members sandwiching a connectivematerial that couples the first section to an adjacent second section.4. The roll-up shelf of claim 1, wherein the second plurality ofsections acts as support for the first plurality of sections when hingedinto a shelf position.
 5. The roll-up shelf of claim 4, wherein thesecond plurality further includes a first adhesive strip that is alignedparallel to the at least one hinge.
 6. The roll-up shelf of claim 1,wherein the bend regions of the first and second pluralities are livinghinges, the living hinges each including first and second surfaces thatmay be pressed together to form a spine.
 7. The roll-up shelf of claim1, wherein at least two non-adjacent sections in the second plurality ofsections include holes for driving a mounting member into a wall,wherein the holes are hidden from view when the first plurality ishinged into position to act as a shelf.
 8. The roll-up shelf of claim 1,wherein the first and second pluralities of sections are substantiallyaligned with one another and roll horizontally onto a wall.
 9. Theroll-up shelf of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge allows thefirst plurality of sections to hinge in a second direction along an axisthat is substantially perpendicular to a living hinge that couples firstand second sections in the first plurality.
 10. The roll-up shelf ofclaim 1, wherein the second plurality of sections includes at least onesection that is wider than an adjacent two sections and includes amounting element to mount the roll-up shelf on a wall.
 11. The roll-upshelf of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge includes less totalhinges than a total number of sections in the first plurality ofsections.
 12. The roll-up shelf of claim 1, wherein a first hinge withinthe at least one hinge includes first and second portions, the firstportion being coupled to a first section in the first plurality ofsections and the second portion being coupled to a second section in thesecond plurality of sections, wherein the first portion is between 50and 100 percent of a total length of the first section and the secondportion is between 50 and 100 percent of a total length of the secondsection.
 13. The roll-up shelf of claim 12, wherein the first hingeincludes a mounting member that pushes through the second portion from aside opposite to a mounting side and at a location that is concealedwhen the first hinge member is hinged at the 90 degree angle.
 14. Aroll-up shelf, including: a first substrate including a first pluralityof ruts to allow the first substrate to bend into a spiral form; asecond substrate including a second plurality of ruts to allow thesecond substrate to bend into the spiral form; at least one hinge memberthat connects the first and second substrates, wherein the hinge memberstops hinging at a position that causes at least a portion of the firstsubstrate to form a surface for placing items.
 15. The roll-up shelf ofclaim 14, wherein a radius of the spiral form intersects the firstsubstrate at least three times.
 16. The roll-up shelf of claim 14,wherein the spiral form flexes the first and second substrates in afirst radial direction that lies in a first plane, wherein the at leastone hinge member hinges in a second radial direction that lies in asecond plane that is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. 17.The roll-up shelf of claim 14, wherein the ruts of the first and secondpluralities are part of living hinges that each include first and secondinner surfaces that may be pressed together to form a spine.
 18. Theroll-up shelf of claim 14, wherein the at least one hinge member foldsto form a support structure having a 90 degree angle, and the ruts arekerf relief cuts.
 19. The roll-up shelf of claim 14, wherein the atleast one hinge member includes a living hinge.
 20. A method forcreating a roll-up shelf, including: arranging a first substrateincluding a first plurality of slats in parallel and flexibly couplingsuccessive slats in the first plurality of slats to one another;arranging a second substrate including a second plurality of slats inparallel and flexibly coupling successive slats in the second pluralityof slats to one another; and attaching a plurality of hinge members tothe first and second plurality of slats, wherein each hinge memberincludes first and second portions, the first portion being coupled to afirst respective slat in the first plurality of slats and the secondportion being coupled to a second respective slat in the secondplurality of slats, wherein the first portion is between 50 and 100percent of a total length of the first respective slat and the secondportion is between 50 and 100 percent of a total length of the secondrespective slat.